Before jumping in the pool together for their annual celebratory splash following an NCAA championship, the University of Virginia women’s swimming team voiced a fitting countdown.
The Cavaliers are all smiles after capturing their latest national title on Saturday at the McCauley Aquatic Center in Atlanta. (Virginia Athletics photo)
“One, two, three, four, five, six!”
And off the Cavaliers went Saturday night into the 14-foot waters of the McCauley Aquatic Center pool in Atlanta. It was a fitting way to wrap .
There have been other Division I swimming dynasties. But until now, none have featured a championship streak of this length.
[cheering in the background]
UVA Women’s Swim Team: Five, four, three, two, one.
[splash]
“The first couple of days of the meet are really what’s exciting and nerve-wracking and makes you anxious and stuff,” UVA coach Todd DeSorbo said, “but now that it’s over, it’s been a little bit surreal.”
DeSorbo, a former assistant coach at North Carolina State University, took over the Wahoo program in 2017. They’ve now won a national title in 67% of his nine seasons in Charlottesville.
Wahoo swimmers make an “A” during a “U-V-A” chant in the pool at the McCauley Aquatic Center following their first place finish in the NCAA championship meet. Virginia finished more than 208 points ahead of second-place Stanford. (Virginia Athletics photo)
Here are five other eye-popping numbers to put 鶹ƽ continued dominance in the pool in perspective.
0 For the first time since the championship streak began in 2021, the Cavaliers conquered the NCAA meet without getting a single point from their legendary trio of Kate Douglass and Alex and Gretchen Walsh. With those stars graduated, UVA still rolled the competition thanks to standout performances from the likes of Claire Curzan, Aimee Canny and Sara Curtis.
208.5 Of the six NCAA wins, 鶹ƽ latest conquest came with the largest margin of victory. The Cavaliers finished 208.5 points ahead of second-place Stanford University. Sixteen of 鶹ƽ 18 swimmers scored points and earned either a first- or second-team All-America distinction. Curzan, a junior, won two individual titles and was part of four relay victories.
3 Women’s swimming now has the third-most NCAA titles among UVA programs, matching men’s tennis with six championships. DeSorbo’s program is one title away from tying UVA men’s lacrosse and men’s soccer for the most on Grounds. Virginia now has 36 NCAA team championships overall, dating to a boxing title in 1938.
